BULLET LN 
OF THE 
TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB. 
Vol. XX. New York City and Lancaster, Pa., February 15, 1893. No. 2. 
A new Species of Listera, with Notes on other Orchids. 
By THOMAS MoRONG, 
LIsTERA BOREALIS, n. sp.—Stems very delicate, 3/-5’ high, gla- 
brous below, glandular pubescent and with long, silky, scattered 
hairs among the inflorescence, sheathed by 2 obtuse, mem- 
branous scales at the base; roots thickened, somewhat fleshy ; 
leaves oval, slightly sheathing, obtuse at the apex, 4’’-8” long, 
2’’-4’"’ broad, entire, bearing on the surface a few silky hairs, 
otherwise very glabrous. Raceme 2 or 3 flowered. Bracts 
scarcely 1’’ long, much shorter than the pedicels. Sepals and 
petals nearly equal, linear, obtuse, about 2” long. Lip 4/’-5’” 
long, 2” broad at the obtuse apex, ciliolate above; apical lobes 
very obtuse, 1/” long, the intermediate tooth obsolete; basal 
lobes %4” long, very obtuse. Column slightly incurved, 114” 
long. Flowers greenish-yellow, the lip with a purplish mid- 
dle, and purplish nerves radiating into the apical lobes. The 
flowers and column, as well as the leaves and upper stem bear 
the silky hairs mentioned, some of which are 2” long. 
Collected by Miss E. Taylor at Fort Smith, Slave River, Hud- 
son Bay Territory, June 28, 1892. 
Self-fertilization. 
Darwin seems inclined to think, if he does not absolutely assert, 
that all orchids are unable to fertilize themselves, and that appears 
to be the prevalent view to-day. That imsect agency is impera- 
tively needed in many cases is doubtless true. The structure of 
the floral organs in a large number of species is such that it is 
clearly impossible for the pollen to reach its own stigma without : 
artificial aid. The rostellum often very effectually interposes be- 
tween the anther cells and the stigmatic cavity. There is, however, 
‘More than one species in which the means of self-fertilization are 
USL} PE re 
